An article in Commonweal hopes Pope Francis will declare that nature has “rights.”
The nature-rights movement is real and extremely subversive to human freedom and thriving.
Most people think such a thing can never happen. But it already is happening. Bolivia and Ecuador have legalized the rights of nature, as have more than 30 U.S. cities, including Santa Monica. Moreover, the Secretary General of the U.N., Ban-ki Moon has declared his support.
For a more detailed discussion, head over to Human Exceptionalism.
I hope the article is wrong. The pope’s declaring that nature has “rights” would, I believe, cause a great schism, because it would shatter the RCC’s intense focus on the unique dignity of man.